Neapolitan fortifications between divestment and enhancement (1860-1939)

The divestment, transformation and enhancement of fortifications are, also in Naples, important themes in the evolution of the city, between the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. The first part of the paper focuses on the post-unification period, highlighting the psychological, social and economical reasons connected with the cancellation of "negative" symbols, and with the reconfiguration of large parts of the city. The interventions of tabula rasa carried out on the bastioned walls enclosing Castelnuovo from the end of 15th century took place in this historical and social framework. The dismantling of the bastioned fence and the nearby military buildings plays a central role in the configuration of the 20th century city, and of Piazza Municipio, as shown by parliamentary debates and law proposals since 1861. The second part of the paper deals with the fate of the Aragonese walls, which were demolished and transformed starting from the mid- 19th century, until they became progressively worthy of preservation. From the opening of the new street, Via dei Fossi, to the clearing of Porta Capuana, we can see the evolution of ideas regarding the fortifications. At first, they were seen as obstacles to city growth, then they became part of the heritage of the city. In this second phase, the main trend was to free the "monument" from the surrounding structures, leading to the isolation of the historic Porta Capuana. This inevitably led to a significant change in the urban fabric of the area

Keywords: Naples Fortifications Divestment Enhancement

Andrea Pane, Valentina Russo, Le fortificazioni napoletane tra dismissione e valorizzazione (1860-1939) in "STORIA URBANA " 136/2012, pp 123-163, DOI: 10.3280/SU2012-136005